Prey capture capabilities by juveniles of the false percula clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) fed calanoid nauplii vs. adults

Abstract

The reaction field of juvenile false percula clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) were studied when fed two different developmental stages (nauplii and adults) of the calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus annandalei. As the copepods undergo ontogenetic development, their morphologic and kinematic traits changes and may therefore influence the ability of the clownfish to identify and capture prey. The fish reacted to nauplii at shorter distances (15.2 +/- 7.1mm) compared to adult copepods (28.0 +/- 9.8mm). However, the fish reaction angle was significantly wider when offered nauplii (-25.3 degrees to 64.4 degrees) compared to adult copepods (-14.2 degrees to 36.7 degrees). This resulted in an equivalent attack rate on both prey items. Hence, even though nauplii are less apparent at greater distances, the fish counteract this partly by reacting to smaller prey items at a wider range. However, the carbon-specific ingestion rate was higher when offered adult copepods, which suggests adult copepods are a more rewarding prey.